alpha-MnS single-crystalline nanobelts were synthesized for the first time on a large scale by solvothermal method in monosurfactant dodecylamine system. The investigation of magnetic properties shows anti-ferromagnetic transition temperature of as-synthesized alpha-MnS nanobelts is remarkably lower than that of bulk counterparts (152 K) and higher than that of corresponding nanoparticles (18 K). These single-crystalline alpha-MnS nanobelts exhibit higher coercivity (4013 Oe) than those of reported MnS nanowires (1020 Oe) and nanoparticles (330 Oe). The study on electrical transport shows that the conductivity of individual alpha-MnS nanobelt is as high as 3.2 x 10(5) S/m. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.